Underarm shield

ABSTRACT

A one-piece dress shield is provided having symmetrical halves which are folded into registry with one another during use. Peripheral tab portions at each side of the fold line include adhesive on the surfaces facing the clothing for securement thereto and also serve as guides during emplacement in a garment. Additional elongated, peelable adhesive means on the main shield body are arranged to extend along the same general direction as the body edges and spaced inwardly therefrom. The shield body and tabs are formed from a plurality of identically shaped layer elements sandwiched together and edge sealed.

United States Patent 1191 Glatt UNDERARM SHIELD Linda R. Glatt, 2759 Monte Mar Terrace, Los Angeles, Calif. 90064 22 Filed: June 23, 1971 211 App]. No.: 155,945

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. ..2/56 [51] Int. Cl. A41d 27/12 [58] Field of Search ..2/53, 56,58

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1451 Apr. 17, 1973 Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Attorney-George J. Netter [5 7] ABSTRACT A one-piece dress shield is provided having symmetrical halves which are folded into registry with one another during use. Peripheral tab portions at each side of the fold line include adhesive on the surfaces facing the clothing for securement thereto and also serve as guides during emplacement in a garment. Additional elongated, peelable adhesive means on the main shield body are arranged to extend along the same general direction as the body edges and spaced inwardly therefrom. The shield body and tabs are formed from a plurality of identically shaped layer elements sandwiched together and edge sealed.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPWW 3127,23?

INVENTOR /A/OA 5 51A 77 UNDERARM SHIELD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has been known to provide pads or matlike pieces of material which are sewn or otherwise incorporated into the underarm portion of a garment in order to protect the gannent from perspiration. Such pads are designed for more than one wearing and quickly lose their efficiency or become unsuitable for further use due to the repeated subjection to deteriorative effects of perspiration and abrasive action from arm movement. Also, such permanent shields usually must be washed, and some must even be ironed, to restore the original freshness and sewn into the garment each time they are used. A further undesirable aspect of the permanent type of shields is that odor causing bacteria may remain in the shield even after washing and ironmg.

e In order to avoid these disadvantages of the reusable type of shields, they have been made in the past in such a way as to contemplate disposing after being tised only once, and, it is to this general class of disposable or throwaway shields that the present invention belongs. Certain known disposable shields are so constructed as to prevent their being used in a sleeveless garment, or they are made of materials which upon being placed next to the skin result in undesirable pilling, that is, the production of small balls of materialresulting from the combined action of perspiration and frictional engagement with the skin This latter effect is particularly uncomfortable for the wearer. g e

For inexpensiveness of manufacture the underarm shield is preferably a one-piece construction as opposed to, say, shield halves which must be joined at an edge to form the finished article. Moreover, in a onepiece shield there is no problem of chafing irritatioh from the line of juncture of the different parts.

In accordance with this invention a one-piece dress shield is provided having symmetrical halves which are folded into registry with one another during use. Peripheral tab portions at each side of the foldline include adhesive means on the surfaces facing the clothing for securement thereto and also serve as guides during emplacement in the garment. Additional elongated, peelable adhesive means oiithe main shield body are arranged to extend along the same general direction as the body edges and spaced inwardly therefrom. t

The shield body and tabs are formed from a plurality of identically shaped layer elements sandwiched together and edge sealed. in the order enumerated from the clothing out, the component layer elements are constructed of materials having the following respective properties: t l. A thin sheetlike element that is waterproof, noiseless, odorless and crease resistant. t

2. A plurality of absorbent sheets forms the central or inner part of the shield and it is this part which accomplishes the primary absorption function of the shield. 3. The outermost layer element for conta'cting the skin i-, porous, substantially noiseless, soft to the touch and will conform during the repeated folding action it experiences during use without producing sharp or hard corners, lumps or the'like. Also, it is non-pillable and its edges when cut are soft, pliable and otherwise pleasant to the touch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention shown in position on a garment in dashed-line depiction.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the dress shield of this invention shown opened up in flat condition.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view illustrating the various component layer elements.

FIG. 4 depicts the clothing shield folded ready for mounting.

FIG Sis a depiction of an alternate embodiment laid out similarly to that of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, the clothing shield 10 of the present invention is shown secured within the, underarm region of a garment 11, thereby acting to absorb perspiration from that portion of the body of the wearer 12 and thereby prevent deterioration of the garment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a first form of the clothing shield in extended form and which is seen to comprise a pair of identically shaped body portions '13 and 14 with a common fold line 15 separating them. The body portions extend outwardly along the fold line direction to form a pair ofmounting and guide tabs 16 and 17 one at each body portion side. Also, the body portions 13 and 14 have their maximum width at the fold line and have side edges extending away from the fold line which taper toward one another.

e The tabs 16 and 17 are generally droplet shaped with the reduced sectional portions interconnecting the shield proper. More particularly, the tabs include slits 18 to serve as strain relief for a purpose to be described. Also, the fold line divides each tab intosy mmetrical halves such that when the shield is folded along the line 15, thetwo halves are identical and in full registry with one another.

Turning now to FIG. 3 depicting in exploded view the various component layer elements of the invention, theelernent 19 is the one which in the completed shield will be disposed next to the garment. This element is waterproof, preventing perspiration from penetrating and ,corninginto contact with the clothing. The outwardly directed surface 20 is formed into a plurality of ridges or other raised pattern for frictional engagement with the garment 11 to assist in mounting the shield. it is also important that the material from which the layer element 19 is constructed be noiseless since, due to its being located in theunderarm region it experiences a considerable amount of flexing during use and the production of everla relatively slight amount of noise on each such flexure could make the shield overall unacceptable to the wearer. It is also important that the material for element 19 be relatively odorless both in the dry state and when it comes into contact with perspiration. Finally, thismaterial must be soft and pliable so as not to produce sharp or hard creases or ridges on folding which could irritate the wearers armpit.

Although other materials may be found to possess some of the necessary qualities to serve as layer element 19, best results to date have been Obtained by using a single integral sheet of a soft synthetic resin material such as so-called clothing PVC which is a polyvinyl chloride sheeting that possesses all of the required properties noted above.

The inner part of the shield comprises a plurality of relatively thin absorbent sheets 21 sandwiched together. The same requirementas to being noiseless also applies here, since these sheets will experience the same amount of working and re-working during use. Excellent results have been obtained with cellulose wadding for this purpose which is also soft and substantially odorless.

The outermost layer element 22, which is over the absorbent sheets 21 and to contact the wearers skin, consists of a sheetlike material that is porous and does not produce sharp edges on cutting. That is, this layer element must not impede or hold the perspiration to any marked degree, but permit its ready passagetherethrough to the absorbent sheets 21.

Additional desirable qualities of the element 22 are that it must not pill, i.e., produce small balls, or chafe or otherwise irritate the skin of the wearer. A further and most important physical property for this outer layer is that it be soft enough to conform on the repeated flexing experienced during use and not produce sharp corners, creases or lumps which would, irritate the wearer. Moreover, since this layer element lies next to the skin, its edges must not be sharp or otherwise irritative.

An example of a material found satisfactory in all above noted respects for the skin contacting layer 22 is a fibrous, nonwoven, spunbonded olefin sold under the brand name of Tyrek 1621 by E. I. Du Pont De Nemours & C o., Incorporated.

In manufacturing, bulk size sheets of the various component layer elements are cut to the same size and shape already described, ,then they are sandwiched together as shown in FIG. 3 and edge sealed such as by a line of sewing 23 (FIG. 4) along the peripheral margin. Next, adhesive means 24 are applied onto the tabs 16 and 17, two for each of the portions 13 and 14, the latter extending along and generally parallel to an edge margin of each of the portions. The adhesive means are preferably double-faced adhesive tape 25 (FIG. 2), one surface of which is secured to the waterproof sheet and'the other surface of which is covered by a relatively easily peelable protective strip 26.

In use, the shieldis tentatively placed in the garment underarm in what is considered the desired position. The protective strips 26 for the tabs 16 and 17 and one of the body portions 13 or 14 that is to be received in the sleeve are then removed and the tabs are adhered to the garment. During emplacement, the tab slits 18 provide strain relief, thereby allowing the tabsto conform to the shape of the garment armpit and not hold the central part of the shield away from the garment as would be the case if the tabs remained extended straight along the. fold line. i

Upon reexamination, if the shield is considered to be properly positioned, then the other strips are removed from the shield and the portions 13 and 1 4 pressed against the garment, adhering it to the sarne. That is,

the tabs 16 and 17 serve first of all to guide the insertion of the shield into the garment and position the shield fold line along the garment underarm crease, after which the tab adhesive means provide partial securement for the shield while it is determined if the shield is located in proper and comfortable relation.

In the event that after an initial placement of the shield it is found that readjustment is desired, it is a simple matter to lift the tabs 16 and 17 free from the garment and accomplish the desired adjustment, after which placement is then tested again and finally the remaining adhesive means are applied to the garment. This readjustment capability is particularly useful when the wearer attempts emplacement of the shield when the garment is already on, since if full adhesion were made on the major surfaces in that case, it would be difficult to release the shield from the garment and adjust it to a new location with any degree of accuracy.

Also, by the tab embodiment described, the tabs serve to absorb perspiration further up or at the outer sides of the armpit and all this is accomplished in a flat one-piece construction. The only other way this has been achieved in the past has been by joining two or more parts which had a curved line of juncture for accommodating the garment throughout the full armpit and its sides.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate form of the one-piece construction in which the various layer elements are con- I structed of the same materials already described. The essential difference from the first version is the elimination of the tabs and the substitution of generally V- shaped slots 27. i

As yet another embodiment, the first described version may be cut along the'fold line 15, the two parts' being individually adaptable for emplacement in the underarm range of a sleeveless garment. That is, the various component elements for a shield according to this embodiment may be either constructed in accordance with the first version, by cutting along the fold line 15 or made in the first instance in accordance with either of the parts 13 or 14. It will then be necessary to providean additional line of sealing or sewing parallel to the edge corresponding to the fold line. Emplacement is accomplished by'first removing theprotective strips 26 from the tab adhesive meansyas well as the protective strips for the shield body. The shield is then loosely arranged in position' within the garment, the tab adhesive means being pressed against the garment first for s ecurement. If it is found to be properly positioned, then the remaining adhesive means may be adhered to the garment. What is claimed is:

l. A single use perspiration shield for mounting into the underarm ofa garment, comprising:

a one-piece body having a fold line defining first and 1 second portions of substantially identical geometry, said body including a plurality of sheetlike layer elements of substantially identical geometry sandwiched together and edge sealed into a flat integral package which elements include, in the order recited from the garment out, a soft-'to-the-touch, noiseless on flexing, sheet of pliant waterproof plastic having a raised pattern on its outwardly directed surface,

at least one sheet of cellulose wadding arranged in contact with the inner surface of said plastic sheet, and

a sheet of non-woven, porous, fibrous material overlaying the cellulose wadding sheet, which fibrous material on folding maintains a smooth, wrinkle-free surface;

first and second tablike means integral with said body extending outwardly from said body at the respective foldline ends, said tablike means being separated from said body by strain relieving slit means extending in a direction generally transversely of said fold line;

adhesive means including strippable cover means thereover being located on the same side of each said tablike means and body portions;

said shield being mounted to the garment by, in the order recited, folding the body and tabs along the fold line, removing the covering means from the tablike means, locating the folded shield onto the garment interior underarm, pressing the exposed tablike means adhesive means into adherence with the garment while at the same time separating the tablike means further from the body at the strain relieving slits, removing the cover means from the first and second body portion adhesive means and pressing the exposed body portion adhesive means into adhering relation with the garment.

2. A single use perspiration shield for mounting into the underarm of a garment, comprising: a

a one-piece body having a fold line defining first and second portions of substantially identical geometry, each portion having a pair of sides extending from the fold line and tapering toward each other, said body including a plurality of sheetlike layer elements of substantially identical geometry sandwiched together and edge scale-d into a flat integral package which elements include, in the order recited from the garment out,

a soft-to-the-touch, noiseless on flexing, sheet of pliant waterproof plastic having a raised pattern on its outwardly directed surface,

at least one sheet of cellulose wadding arranged in contact with the inner surface of said plastic sheet, and

a sheet of non-woven, porous, fibrous material overlaying the cellulose wadding sheet, which fibrous material on folding maintains a smooth, wrinkle-free surface;

said body terminating at each of the fold line ends in a generally V-shaped slot;

a plurality of elongated adhesive means including strippable cover means thereover being located on the same side of said body portions and lying along and generally parallel to the body tapering sides;

said shield being mounted to the garment by, in the order recited, folding the body along the fold line, removing the covering means from one of the adhesive means, locating the folded shield onto the garment interior underarm, while at the same time positioning the V-shaped slots on the garment underarm, and pressing the exposed body portion adhesive means into adhering relation with the garment. 

1. A single use perspiration shield for mounting into the underarm of a garment, comprising: a one-piece body having a fold line defining first and second portions of substantially identical geometry, said body including a plurality of sheetlike layer elements of substantially identical geometry sandwiched together and edge sealed into a flat integral package which elements include, in the order recited from the garment out, a soft-to-the-touch, noiseless on flexing, sheet of pliant waterproof plastic having a raised pattern on its outwardly directed surface, at least one sheet of cellulose wadding arranged in contact with the inner surface of said plastic sheet, and a sheet of non-woven, porous, fibrous material overlaying the cellulose wadding sheet, which fibrous material on folding maintains a smooth, wrinkle-free surface; first and second tablike means integral with said body extending outwardly from said body at the respective foldline ends, said tablike means being separated from said body by strain relieving slit means extending in a direction generally transversely of said fold line; adhesive means including strippable cover means thereover being located on the same side of each said tablike means and body portions; said shield being mounted to the garment by, in the order recited, folding the body and tabs along the fold line, removing the covering means from the tablike means, locating the folded shield onto the garment interior underarm, pressing the exposed tablike means adhesive means into adherence with the garment while at the same time separating the tablike means further from the body at the strain relieving slits, removing the cover means from the first and second body portion adhesive means and pressing the exposed body portion adhesive means into adhering relation with the garment.
 2. A single use perspiration shield for mounting into the underarm of a garment, comprising: a one-piece body having a fold line defining first and second portions of substantially identical geometry, each portion having a pair of sides extending from the fold line and tapering toward each other, said body including a plurality of sheetlike layer elements of substantially identical geometry sandwiched together and edge sealed into a flat integral package which elements include, in the order recited from the garment out, a soft-to-the-touch, noiseless on flexing, sheet of pliant waterproof plastic having a raised pattern on its outwardly directed surface, at least one sheet of cellulose wadding arranged in contact with the inner surface of said plastic sheet, and a sheet of non-woven, porous, fibrous material overlaying the cellulose wadding sheet, which fibrous material on folding maintains a smooth, wrinkle-free surface; said body terminating at each of the fold line ends in a generally V-shaped slot; a plurality of elongated adhesive means including strippable cover means thereover being located on the same side of said body portions and lying along and generally parallel to the body tapering sides; said shield being mounted to the garment by, in the order recited, folding the body along the fold line, removing the covering means from one of the adhesive means, locating the folded shield onto the garment interior underarm, while at the same time positioning the V-shaped slots on the garment underarm, and pressing the exposed body portion adhesive means into adhering relation with the garment. 